Peel Lineup

Attending the Sun Wine Fest at Mohegan Sun Casino exposed me to a surprising number of locally produced foods, wines, and liquors. One of them was Peel, a liquor producer based in New Britain, Connecticut that makes Limoncello, Cremoncello and Bananacello from scratch with no additives, preservatives or artificial coloring.

Peel began as a home grown operation between friends sharing their best batches of limoncello as gifts during the holidays. After much encouragement and lots of limoncello tastings, this small company branched out into producing Cremoncello and Bananacello, liqueurs that I never knew existed.

Produced in small batches and hand-crafted for intense, smooth flavor, these liqueurs may be enjoyed as an after-dinner aperitif, a chaser for espresso, or as part of your favorite cocktail. Like other Limoncellos, Peel Limoncello is made from fresh lemon peel using a recipe from a small town off the Amalfi coast in Southern Italy. It can be enjoyed chilled, on the rocks or mixed with your favorite vodka to make the perfect martini. Their Bananacello is a unique banana cream liqueur made from fresh bananas. Enjoy in a cocktail, chilled on the rocks, or poured over gelato making make a tasty dessert. The Cremoncello is creamy version of the original Limoncello recipe.

Here are some recipes to get you started courtesy of Peel:

Peel Island Breeze Martini

½ oz Peel Limoncello
2 oz Light Rum
½ oz Orange Liqueur
Splash of Lemon Juice

Sex-a-Peel Martini

Mix Peel Limoncello, rum, orange liqueur, and lemon juice into a shaker with 3 oz ice. Pour into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

Sex-a-Peel Martini

1 oz Peel Cremoncello
1 oz of your favorite vodka
Splash of Cranberry Juice

Bananacello Martini

Mix Peel Cremoncello, vodka, and cranberry juice into a shaker with 3 oz ice. Pour into a chilled martini glass and enjoy.

Banana Peel Martini

1 ½ oz Peel Bananacello
1 ½ oz Chocolate flavored vodka

Mix Peel Bananacello and vodka into a shaker with 3 oz ice. Drizzle chocolate syrup into a chilled martini glass. Pour cocktail into glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Photos courtesy of Peel

Devito's Limoncello...It's Worth Hunting Down

Most of us are aware of Danny DeVito’s star power in movies like Twins, Throw Momma From the Train, and Romancing the Stone.  But did you know that DeVito champions his own brand of premium limoncello?

Limoncello has been enjoyed for centuries in Italy. It’s the quintessential aperitif that’s sipped after dinner and often described as “sunshine in a bottle.”  Besides drinking it straight over ice, it makes a great martini, and is heavenly over shaved “shaved ice” as a palate cleanser. It’s traditionally served chilled in small ceramic glasses  It is an increasingly popular ingredient in cocktails because of its strong lemon flavor without the sourness or bitterness of lemon juice.

A devoted limoncello fan since his youth growing up on the Jersey Shore, liqueur, especially fruit spirits were a key ingredient at family gatherings.  It also didn’t hurt that DeVito’s maternal grandfather was born near southern Italy’s Positano before migrating to New Jersey’s Asbury Park.  When DeVito visited Positano himself years later, he was captivated by the aroma of the Sorrento lemon trees along with the fruit’s quality, size, and flavor.

His role as limoncello connoisseur came to a head in 2006 after finishing off a bunch of limoncellos with pal George Clooney by midnight before doing an interview the next morning at 7 a.m. on Fox and Friends and then another at 11 a.m. on the View where he was still visibly buzzed .  It was all uphill from here when the following year, he launched his own brand with much fanfare. 

The secret to perfect limoncello lies in the zest of prized, highly scented Sorrento lemons and their essential oils. DeVito’s limoncello is the only commercial brand available here in the States exclusively made with these lemons and is the only brand awarded an IGP designation, Italy’s prestigious mark of authenticity.